ML092780074
| ML092780074 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000925 |
| Issue date: | 07/29/1968 |
| From: | Mccool W US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8502090279 | |
| Download: ML092780074 (4) | |
Text
JUly
- i29, 1968 4*
SECRETARIAT AEC-R 73/13 4TES C ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF ENRICHED URAYIUM HEXAFLUORIDE AT KFRR -
- MCGEE, OKLAHOMA CITY Note by the Secretary The Director of Regulation has requested that the attached memorandum of July 26, 1968 from the Director of Nuclear Materials Safeguards be circulated for the information of the Commission.
.W. B.
McCool Secretary, DISTRIBUTION NO.
OF COPIES Secretary 10 Chairman Seaborg 2
Commissioner Ramey 1
Commissioner Tape 1
Commissioner Johnson 1
Commissioner 1
General Manager 2
Deputy General Manager 1
Dir. of Regulation 4
Deputy Dir. of Regulation 1
Asst. Dir. of Reg. for Admin.
2 Asst. Dir. of Reg. for Reactors 1
Asst. Dir. of Reg. for SP 1
Asst. General Manager 1
Exec. Asst. to GM 1
Asst.
GM for Admin.
1 Asst.
GM for IA 1
Asst.
GM for Orprations 1
Asst.
GM for Plans & Prod.
1 Asst.
GM for Reactors 1
Asst.
GM for R&D 1
General Counsel 6
Biology & Medicine 1
Compliance 6
Congressional Relations 2
Industrial Participation 1
Inspection 1
Materials Licensing 2
Nuclear-Mat. Safeguards 6
Operational Safety 2
Operations Analysis 1
Plans & Reports 2
Public Information 2
Safeguards & Materials Mgmt.
1 State & Lic. Relations 2
1 -
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF ENRICHED URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE KERR-McGEE CORPORATION NUCLEAR DIVISION OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA Report to the Director ofRegulation by the Director of Nuclear Materials Safeguards Region III (Chicago), Division of Compliance, was notified by telephone on the, evening of July 19, 1968, by the subject licensee that there had been an accidental release of 100.5 pounds of enriched (1.65% U-235) uranium hexafluoride containing 504 grams of U-235.
The following infor-mation was transmitted in a teletype from Kerr-McGee at approximately 5:08 p.m. on July 22, 1968:
"Refer to Licen SNY1-928.
This confirms in accord 10 CFR 20.403 our telephoZ-c-notification to you on evening of July 19 of an accidental release of about 100 pounds of 1.65%
enriched UF6 at the Nuclear Division Cimarron facility.
Inci-dent occurred at about 6:40 p.m. on July 19 and consisted of ground level release through valves inadvertently left open during start up operation of new equipment-for vaporization of UF 6 from standard 12" cylinder.
Situation was under complete control by 7:00 p.m. by closing valve; however, the cloud of uranyl fluoride formed in the interim rapidly dispersed uncon-trolled to the outside atmosphere resulting in airborne release to the unrestrlcted area.
No overexposure of personnel result-ed.
One supervisory employee was given medical treatment for minor skin burns around exposed neck area received during later reentry to determine source of leak.
Self-contained breathing apparatus was worn during reentry.
No property damage resulted.
Environmental air samples and surface surveys following release were normal and no significant contamination involved.
Produc-tion operation in remainder of facility essentially uninterrupted.
Operation procedure modifications are being incorporated to pre-vent recurrence.
Detailed report will follow per regulations."
2 --
Surveys made by the licensee indicate that the main portion of the plant was not significantly contaminated and only slight contamination was found in the area of the 30" steam chest.
Bioassay samples were taken from four employees that were in the immediate vicinity of the incident.
The employee who received a slight fluorine burn on the neck was treated by his doctor and returned to work the following day.
The receiving area has been decontaminated and work resumed July 24, 1968, on the cylinder in question.
Samples of vegetation and smears of the un-restricted areas downwind to the release have been taken, but the results are not yet available.
Based on the preliminary information received, the Director of the Division of Compliance has advised that there does not appear to be any health and safety problem.
The incident will be reviewed during the next Compliance inspection scheduled for August 1968.
It is believed that none of the 100.5 pounds of UF6 released from the 30" steam chest entered the uranium oxide production system; however, at the completion of the present 1.65% U-235 campaign (scheduled to be completed during the week of July 29, 1968) Kerr-McGee will be able to draw a material balance around the production run.
No scrubbers are provided in this par-ticular vaporizing hood and consequently the loss is considered to be unrecoverable.
Based on the information received from the licensee, the Division of Nuclear Materials Safeguards does not regard this accidental loss of special nuclear material to warrant a special safeguards inves-tigation.
Kerr-McGee does not plan to issue a public release.
The staff of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy has been informed by telephone.